KOEHNKE, Peter Albert
1940 – 2022
With deep sadness we announce the passing of our beloved Peter at the age of 82.
Peter was born in Austria to Hans and Margarete Koehnke and was one of three children. In his early years he was exposed to the hardships of war – hunger, lack of proper housing, clothing and jobs for his formerly well positioned father. During this time the family had to flee and relocate numerous times.
After the war the family moved to Nashville, Tennessee. To help fund his education he worked various jobs, amongst them at the RCA Recording Studio where Elvis was one of the many artists he worked with.
In February 1959 his dad started BMW in Toronto and the family followed to Canada later that year.
Peter completed his education in Electronics Engineering in Toronto and went on to have a successful career, a profession that he mastered and enjoyed almost to the end.
There was hardly anything this man could not repair or a problem unable to solve. He will be remembered for his love of trains, travel and trips to Haus Waldesruh.
Peter is best described as a very lovable, sympathetic, hardworking, determined, compassionate and unselfish soul. He was a man of few words, but still easily heard, and people enjoyed his dry humour.
Peter is survived by his wife Edith, the love of his life for 49 years, his children, son Jamie (Jan) and daughter Tanya, his sister Ursula (Whayne) and relatives in USA and Germany.
Peter was predeceased by his parents and his sister Eva Lipes-Wright.
In keeping with Peter’s wishes, a private family gathering will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rosedale Hospice in Calgary, www.hospicecalgary.ca/rosedale/ or Cochrane Home Care (donations go through Calgary Health Foundation) www.calgaryhealthfoundation.ca/
Cochrane Country Funeral Home – cochrane@piersons.ca
Arrangements entrusted to Flo Simpson, Funeral Director
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of KOEHNKE Peter Albert 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Cochrane, Province: Alberta
My Condolences for your profound loss.
My name is Ben Morris and I worked with Peter since 2003. He shared his wisdom and laughed when I worked on a old unit and I thought I dumped a plant. He and Vilim taught me all about the circuits he designed for his UPS. He was passionate about his designs and loved debating (Talking Loudly!) about them with Vilim. Lunches out of office for Vilim and Peter were highlights of the week and when I was in Town, I was always warmly welcomed. Peter would dole out advice technical and about life, tease and laugh. But Lord, he made me feel short. I will miss those lunches. Last Christmas, Peter gave a box of fancy chocolates, I have eight left and they will be all the sweeter now, for the memories they now invoke.
Goodbye Peter, May you Soar!